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Lentil (Masoor)RabiOpen-pollinatedUpdated 27 August 2026

Pant Lentil 406 (PL 406)

A small-seeded lentil from GBPUAT, Pantnagar, widely grown across the North East Plains Zone for combining rust and wilt resistance with steady performance under timely-sown and rice-fallow conditions.

SeasonRabi
Maturity period130–140 days
Expected yieldAround 14–16 q/ha under managed conditions; 8–12 q/ha rainfed and under rice-fallow
Suitable soilWell-drained loam to clay loam; also grown on rice-fallow paddy land

Quick facts

Crop
Lentil (Masoor)
Type
Open-pollinated
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
130–140 days
Seed rate
30–40 kg/ha (12–16 kg/acre) for line sowing; broadcast a little thicker (about 45–50 kg/ha) for a rice-fallow crop
Expected yield
Around 14–16 q/ha under managed conditions; 8–12 q/ha rainfed and under rice-fallow
Suitable soil
Well-drained loam to clay loam; also grown on rice-fallow paddy land
Release
Developed by GBPUAT, Pantnagar; recommended for the North East Plains Zone

About this variety

Pant Lentil 406 (PL 406, also written Pant L 406) is a small-seeded lentil developed by Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, and carried in state and central recommendations for the North East Plains Zone — eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand. It is valued mainly for its disease package: it is listed as resistant to rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) and to Fusarium wilt, the two diseases that most often decide a lentil crop in the eastern plains. It matures in roughly 130–140 days and does well both as a timely line-sown crop and as a rice-fallow (utera/paira) crop broadcast into standing paddy. Its seed is the standard small red-cotyledon masoor type that splits cleanly into red dal.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeOpen-pollinated
    Maturity130–140 days
    Yield potentialAround 14–16 q/ha under managed conditions; 8–12 q/ha rainfed and under rice-fallow
    Disease resistanceResistant to rust and Fusarium wilt
    SoilWell-drained loam to clay loam; also grown on rice-fallow paddy land
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeMid-October to mid-November for a line-sown crop; late October into standing near-mature paddy for a utera/paira crop
  • Seed rate30–40 kg/ha (12–16 kg/acre) for line sowing; broadcast a little thicker (about 45–50 kg/ha) for a rice-fallow crop
  • FertilizerA small starter dose only — about 15–20 kg N and 40–50 kg P2O5 per hectare basal, plus 20 kg S on light soils. No nitrogen top-dressing; treat seed with a fungicide, then Rhizobium and PSB
  • HarvestingHarvest at about 130–140 days when the plants yellow, the lower pods turn brown and dry, and the leaves shed — before the top pods shatter. Cool-morning cutting reduces shattering loss.

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

130–140 days

Expected yield

Around 14–16 q/ha under managed conditions; 8–12 q/ha rainfed and under rice-fallow

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Carries resistance to both rust and Fusarium wilt — the two diseases that most often decide a lentil crop in the eastern plains
  • Performs well both as a timely line-sown crop and as a rice-fallow (utera/paira) crop, which suits the cropping pattern of most of eastern India

Things to consider

  • It is a small-seeded type; if you are growing for the bold-grain premium market, a bolder variety such as DPL 62 is a better fit
  • Disease-resistance ratings drift as pathogen races evolve — confirm the current rating for your district with your KVK, and do not rely on variety resistance alone on badly wilt-sick land

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Bihar
  • West Bengal
  • Jharkhand

Frequently asked questions

Is PL 406 the same as Pant L 406?

Yes — Pant Lentil 406, PL 406 and Pant L 406 are the same variety, from GBPUAT, Pantnagar. The different spellings are just how it is written in different variety lists.

Which zone is PL 406 recommended for?

The North East Plains Zone — eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand — where its rust and wilt resistance and its suitability for rice-fallow cultivation matter most.

Can PL 406 be grown as a utera (paira) crop?

Yes — it is commonly broadcast into standing near-mature paddy in late October across the eastern belt, sown a little thicker (about 45–50 kg/ha) to offset the poorer establishment of a relay crop.

Sourced from: ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur — lentil varieties and package of practices, Directorate of Pulses Development — Central released varieties of Lentil (Masoor). editorial policy.